Alarm check valve



Dec. 4, 1928.

I 1 A. GRIMES ALARM CHECK VALVE Filed July 17, 1925 Wf y f Il' 4 H r A m @w m .Sm M n f v v B W Patented Dec. 4, 1928. l

`UNITED STATES 1,693,842 PATENT OFFICE."

i LESTER A. GRIMES, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GRIMES SPRINKLEB COMPANY, IN C., F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ALARM CHECK VALVE.

'Application led July 17, 1925. Serial No. 44,221.

The present invention relates to alarm valves for automatic sprinkler systems. Such devices broadly comprise a casing having therein a normally closed check valve in the path of flow from the water supply tothe system, and a normally closed auxiliary valve to control theV flow to aretarding chamber governing the operation of one or more alarm devices.

Opening-movements of the check valve are effected by excess ot' pressure in the main as Lcompared with the pressure in the system, and movements of the auxiliary valve are effected solely by-those of the check valve. When one or more of the sprinkler heads ot' the system is opened as by lire or accident, thus providing an outletfor the Water in the system, the check valve is forced open by pressure in the main and water then flows through t-he valve to the opened heads. Under such conditions the auiliary valve is also unseated, thereby permittingr a flow to the retarding chamber, and the alarm is duly given.

Because of ever varying pressure in the water main, the check valve is subjected to water hammer and is thereby intermittently unseated to a "slight extent. It is of importance that such unseating of the check valve should not cause a false alarm; but it is of even greater importance that any unseating of the valve occasioned by the opening of a sprinkler head should promptly and with certainty operate to sound a true alarm.

It is the object of the invention to pro,l vide an easily adjustable device, positive and certain in action, whereinv intermittent openings of the check valve will not cause'false alarms, but even a slight flow occasioned as by tire Will be imn'iediately effective to open the auxiliary valve and permit the flow necessary to set the alarm devices in operation.

This object is accomplished as hereinafter set forth, and a preferred manner isshovvn in the accompanying drawings of a vertical section of the device as a whole,-butjit is to be understood that this showing is not to be taken as defining the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown, the casing A is provided with the usual inlet passage B communicating with the water supply, and the outlet'C communicating with the sprinkler system. The waterway 'between the inlet and outlet yisifcontrolled by the Swinging valve D which seats von the ring E carried by the casing. This valve is hinged to the arm F by the pin G, the arm being carried by the pivotH suitably supported by the casing.

At the outer cdgeot' the valve D, that is at the edge farthest removed from the pivot H, is an extension I to which is attached theA auxiliary valve. This latter valve preferably comprises a metal plate J embedded in or otherwise attached to a block K of rubber or other yielding material, the Wholebeing supportedby the screw-threaded post L which engages an opening in the extension I and is held in place by the nuts M-M, one on each side of said extension. This Valve is normally seated on the bushing N and controls the passage O leading to the alarm devices.

The casing is provided at one side with an opening covered by the plate P secured in position by bolts and nuts Q. Projecting will abut when the valve is in full open position, as shown in dotted lines. The casing is also provided with an opening, in-

dicated in the drawings by broken lines and directly opposite the auxiliary valve, for the usual pipe connection by which above the valve may be drained.

The valve D is hinged to its arm ,F at a point intermedia-te the center of the valve and the pivot H. This hinge connection between the valve and its support Apermits a slight rocking movement of the valve, independent of any movement of the arm, and an accuracy in seating'not obtainable by a rigid connection at this point.

The outer edge of the valve I), being farthest removed from the pivot H, will move through a greater arc and with proportionately greater -rapidity than the inner edge; and this movement of the outer edge is further accelerated and multiplied by locating the hinge connection between the valve and its arm intermediate the center of the .Valve and' the pivot, H, rather than at the center of the valve., the outer edge of the the system fulcrum of the main valve, will describe an arc even greater than the latter, and any 4 its seat a like distance all around the movement of the auxiliary valve would be only ap roximately that of the main valve, and suc small flow might/not open the auxiliary valve s'uicient'ly to eect a filling of there- -tarding chamberand actuation of the alarm devices.

y A yielding or resilient blocksuch as is preferred' as the` sim lest and most positive orm of auxiliary va ve, doing away entirely with sprin iaphragms, and the like.

' This block 1s so positioned that it is to some meansof mounting extent compressed on its seat when the main valv'e is seated; and, by virtue of this compression, the 'occasional slight openings of the main valve as by water hammer do not operate to move the block from its seat and open the passage to the alarm devices.' The ofthe block, as here shown, peruick and positive itioning by enuts M-M,whic are accessible through the o ening in the casing, normally covered by t e plate P, so the ressure of the block on the seat N may readi be adjustedto any desired degree in or er that mits of .the opening of the ma 'be either "delayed or aeceleratedla f ollowin the initial opening of the main valve beyon aA redetermmed extent." I`iVhenthe main valve is opened more than just suicient to take up the compressionvin theblock, the auxiliary valve will follow the lead of the former and have a movement in unison therewitli,thus opening the passage ,tn the alarm devices. such opening of the auxiliary valve is occasioned only Aby excessive water hammer, and not because of the opening of a sprinkler head,an alarm fore the ciently filled to actuate the alarm.

A further advantage of the block as shown is found in the fact that any slight shifting of the main valve, or change of position on its seat, is fully cared for by such a block when made somewhat larger than its seat.

retarding chamber has been Sulli- The outer end of the arm F may be weighted, if desired, in order that'greater Blessure may be required to unseat the valve and so that only slight water hammer would be ineectiveto open the auxiliary valve at all. This is more particularly of importance when the valve as a whole is insta ledin ahorizontal position (thaty is, when the water main-is horizontal'and the valve. i

sition). When D itself is in a vertical the main is in a vertical ition and the valve D is horizontal, the weighted arm is of lese importance, as the weight'of the valve itself with the added weight of the water in the system will ordinarily be sullicient to keep t t e valve closed. Any tendency of the main valve to open first at its side nearest the pivot H, due for example to suction on the auxiliary valve 'exerted through the passage O and the retardin chamber, may be overcome as by bormg an threading the lever arm F to receive the screw T, which screw may be turned as desired to regulate the lay between the end1 thereof and the outer ace of the valve D. When ositioned, the screwisheld in place by the ook nut U- l Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed: A

In an alarm check valve, a casing, a lever pivoted therein, a main valve, a connection between said lever and said valve at a point intermediate the4 pivot of the former and the'centerA of the latter, and an auxiliary valve comprisin an adjustable stem carried by said main v ve and yielding means sfu!)Y ported by said stem, saidvv auxiliary valve in operation having initially adelayed opening movement'witli respect tosaid main valve and thereaftera movement inunison there @In testimony whereol have signed 100 name. to this specification. v y

. l i LESTER A. GRIMES. 

